| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to simplified certification and recertification |
|
|
requirements for certain persons under the supplemental nutrition |
|
|
assistance program. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 33.015(a), Human Resources Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) In administering the supplemental nutrition assistance |
|
|
program, the commission shall, except as provided by Subsection (c) |
|
|
and Section 33.019, allow a person to comply with initial |
|
|
eligibility requirements, including any initial interview, and |
|
|
with subsequent periodic eligibility recertification requirements |
|
|
by telephone instead of through a personal appearance at commission |
|
|
offices if: |
|
|
(1) the person and each member of the person's |
|
|
household: |
|
|
(A) have no earned income; and |
|
|
(B) are elderly or persons with disabilities; or |
|
|
(2) the person is subject to a hardship, as determined |
|
|
by commission rule. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 33.019 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 33.019. SIMPLIFIED CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION |
|
|
REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN SNAP APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS. (a) The |
|
|
commission shall develop and implement simplified certification |
|
|
and recertification requirements for supplemental nutrition |
|
|
assistance program benefits for an individual who: |
|
|
(1) is 60 years of age or older or is a person with a |
|
|
disability, as determined by commission rule; and |
|
|
(2) resides in a household in which every individual |
|
|
residing in the household is 60 years of age or older or is a person |
|
|
with a disability, as determined by commission rule. |
|
|
(b) The simplified requirements must: |
|
|
(1) allow an individual described by this section to |
|
|
waive recertification interview requirements; |
|
|
(2) simplify and reduce the number of verification |
|
|
requirements for certifying and recertifying eligibility to |
|
|
receive benefits, which must include the use of a shortened |
|
|
application form; and |
|
|
(3) allow the individual to remain eligible for |
|
|
benefits for 36 months after certification and after each |
|
|
recertification. |
|
|
(c) An individual described by this section is required to: |
|
|
(1) submit to the commission a change reporting form |
|
|
every 12 months during the 36-month eligibility period; and |
|
|
(2) report to the commission, in accordance with |
|
|
federal law, when the individual receives an increase in income. |
|
|
(d) The commission shall, in a manner that complies with |
|
|
federal law, use data matching to help enroll in the supplemental |
|
|
nutrition assistance program eligible individuals described by |
|
|
this section who are receiving Medicaid benefits. The commission |
|
|
may seek or use private funding or contract with a public or private |
|
|
entity to carry out this section. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 33.019, Human Resources Code, as added |
|
|
by this Act, applies only to an application or recertification of |
|
|
eligibility of a person for supplemental nutrition assistance |
|
|
program benefits submitted on or after January 1, 2022. |
|
|
SECTION 4. If before implementing any provision of this Act |
|
|
a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a |
|
|
federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision, |
|
|
the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or |
|
|
authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the |
|
|
waiver or authorization is granted. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |